Michael Jackson to Vegas? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

AVoiceOfReason · 12-24-2006, 01:39 PM

Saw this on Drudge (well, a link from Drudge to ReviewJournal, actually). I thought about putting it in music, but it seems to fit here as well:

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Ending 18 months of seclusion in Europe, reclusive superstar Michael Jackson was on a plane to the United States late Saturday bound for Las Vegas, where he plans a comeback.

Jackson and his three children, Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II were due to arrive before midnight at a private executive terminal at McCarran International Airport, sources said.

We hear that Jackson's friend, Las Vegas dealmaker Jack Wishna, was instrumental in having the pop icon move back to the United States.

Reminiscent of Howard Hughes' secretive arrival in Las Vegas on Thanksgiving Day in 1966, Jackson's surprise move came after his father, Joe Jackson, vowed his son would not live in the United States again.

The 48-year-old deposed King of Pop has lived in Bahrain and a Celtic castle in Ireland since being acquitted in California of child molestation charges in June 2005.

Wishna, reached by telephone, wouldn't comment, other than to confirm Jackson was moving to Las Vegas and to say, "We are working on several projects."

Jackson has had more than a dozen No. 1 hits on the U.S. charts, the last in 1995. He has not toured since the mid-1990s.

Wishna wouldn't say where Jackson might land on the Strip. Wishna made headlines during Jackson's trial when he courted the entertainer, saying a Jackson comeback would earn a Celine Dion-like contract in Las Vegas.

Calling Jackson "one of the greatest entertainers in the world," Wishna said the singer "is poised to return to the top of the entertainment world soon."

It's the latest coup for Wishna. Two years ago, he brokered a deal that put Donald Trump's $2.8 billion Trump International Hotel & Tower on Phil Ruffin's New Frontier site.

After arriving in Las Vegas in 1999, Wishna put together a deal potentially worth $250 million for Wayne Newton at the Stardust. Wishna has dealt with Michael Flatley, Britney Spears, Richard Branson and Mohamed al-Fayed on Las Vegas deals.
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Not that I think too much about Jackson, but I have thought that a Vegas gig was a logical fit for him. He'd get to stay at home, put on a live show playing his hits (since his albums don't sell anywhere near as they used to) and make some money to service his debt load.

paulskinback · 12-27-2006, 04:01 PM

MJ in Vegas just doesn't sound like it could work. So sad to see what has become of such a talented guy. My 2 cents: write a comeback album, it'll sell billions world-wide and put him back on the map... then he should just produce and find new talent much along the lines of Dr Dre (but obviously not rap) and perhaps a talent show a la simon cowell

fresnelly · 12-27-2006, 05:01 PM

Until he puts out a credible album again, he doesn't have many options. I agree that Vegas is a natural fit, but he's still a high risk investment. Like Celine Dion, he'd need a custom built theatre and lavish stage show to compete with the other attractions (as well as meet his old reputation) and that takes big financial backing. One new lurid charge, lawsuit or scandal would bring the whole enterprise crashing in on itself.

If I were his management, I'd have him produce a stripped back R&B album and eschew the flamboyant Royalty/Alien image he's created. In other words, look to influences such as Ray Charles, James Brown and classic Motown with a modern funk twist. Once he has re-asserted his showmanship talents, then he can think about a project like the one in Vegas.

Who knows. Maybe he's too far gone.

Telluride · 12-27-2006, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fresnelly

Until he puts out a credible album again, he doesn't have many options. I agree that Vegas is a natural fit, but he's still a high risk investment. Like Celine Dion, he'd need a custom built theatre and lavish stage show to compete with the other attractions (as well as meet his old reputation) and that takes big financial backing. One new lurid charge, lawsuit or scandal would bring the whole enterprise crashing in on itself.

If I were his management, I'd have him produce a stripped back R&B album and eschew the flamboyant Royalty/Alien image he's created. In other words, look to influences such as Ray Charles, James Brown and classic Motown with a modern funk twist. Once he has re-asserted his showmanship talents, then he can think about a project like the one in Vegas.

Who knows. Maybe he's too far gone.

That sounds about right. It's my understanding that Michael Jackson still has bunches of loyal fans. But the question is whether or not enough of them live near Las Vegas to make a show deal profitable.

PS: I think the quote in your signature is funny.

The_Jazz · 12-28-2006, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulskinback

MJ in Vegas just doesn't sound like it could work. So sad to see what has become of such a talented guy. My 2 cents: write a comeback album, it'll sell billions world-wide and put him back on the map...

Yes, that worked so well for "HIStory", where he spent millions of the studio's money and millions of his own to get it "just right". I don't think that it even cracked "gold" status, which is something that music executives hand out at the LA border to any traveling musician these days.

Willy · 12-28-2006, 11:34 PM

when I saw that title I wondered if he was planning to sing or if he would just sit there and let people file by to look at the weirdo like a traveling circus sideshow.

12-24-2006, 01:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
AVoiceOfReason Psycho Location: Greenwood, Arkansas	Michael Jackson to Vegas? Saw this on Drudge (well, a link from Drudge to ReviewJournal, actually). I thought about putting it in music, but it seems to fit here as well: _________________________ Ending 18 months of seclusion in Europe, reclusive superstar Michael Jackson was on a plane to the United States late Saturday bound for Las Vegas, where he plans a comeback. Jackson and his three children, Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II were due to arrive before midnight at a private executive terminal at McCarran International Airport, sources said. We hear that Jackson's friend, Las Vegas dealmaker Jack Wishna, was instrumental in having the pop icon move back to the United States. Reminiscent of Howard Hughes' secretive arrival in Las Vegas on Thanksgiving Day in 1966, Jackson's surprise move came after his father, Joe Jackson, vowed his son would not live in the United States again. The 48-year-old deposed King of Pop has lived in Bahrain and a Celtic castle in Ireland since being acquitted in California of child molestation charges in June 2005. Wishna, reached by telephone, wouldn't comment, other than to confirm Jackson was moving to Las Vegas and to say, "We are working on several projects." Jackson has had more than a dozen No. 1 hits on the U.S. charts, the last in 1995. He has not toured since the mid-1990s. Wishna wouldn't say where Jackson might land on the Strip. Wishna made headlines during Jackson's trial when he courted the entertainer, saying a Jackson comeback would earn a Celine Dion-like contract in Las Vegas. Calling Jackson "one of the greatest entertainers in the world," Wishna said the singer "is poised to return to the top of the entertainment world soon." It's the latest coup for Wishna. Two years ago, he brokered a deal that put Donald Trump's $2.8 billion Trump International Hotel & Tower on Phil Ruffin's New Frontier site. After arriving in Las Vegas in 1999, Wishna put together a deal potentially worth $250 million for Wayne Newton at the Stardust. Wishna has dealt with Michael Flatley, Britney Spears, Richard Branson and Mohamed al-Fayed on Las Vegas deals. ________________ Not that I think too much about Jackson, but I have thought that a Vegas gig was a logical fit for him. He'd get to stay at home, put on a live show playing his hits (since his albums don't sell anywhere near as they used to) and make some money to service his debt load. __________________ AVOR A Voice Of Reason, not necessarily the ONLY one.

12-27-2006, 04:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
paulskinback Insane	MJ in Vegas just doesn't sound like it could work. So sad to see what has become of such a talented guy. My 2 cents: write a comeback album, it'll sell billions world-wide and put him back on the map... then he should just produce and find new talent much along the lines of Dr Dre (but obviously not rap) and perhaps a talent show a la simon cowell __________________ 'Everything that can be invented has been invented.- - 1899, Charles Duell, U.S. Office of Patents. 'There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.' - Ken Olson, 1977, Digital Equipment Corporation

12-27-2006, 05:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	Until he puts out a credible album again, he doesn't have many options. I agree that Vegas is a natural fit, but he's still a high risk investment. Like Celine Dion, he'd need a custom built theatre and lavish stage show to compete with the other attractions (as well as meet his old reputation) and that takes big financial backing. One new lurid charge, lawsuit or scandal would bring the whole enterprise crashing in on itself. If I were his management, I'd have him produce a stripped back R&B album and eschew the flamboyant Royalty/Alien image he's created. In other words, look to influences such as Ray Charles, James Brown and classic Motown with a modern funk twist. Once he has re-asserted his showmanship talents, then he can think about a project like the one in Vegas. Who knows. Maybe he's too far gone. __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life Last edited by fresnelly; 12-27-2006 at 05:04 PM..

12-28-2006, 11:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Willy Insane	when I saw that title I wondered if he was planning to sing or if he would just sit there and let people file by to look at the weirdo like a traveling circus sideshow.